Updated: Connect for Heath enrolls 124,000 Coloradans

DENVER – More than 124,000 Coloradans have signed up for private health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s health-insurance marketplace created by the Colorado Legislature, the nonprofit announced Monday.

During its first open enrollment period – Oct. 1 through March 31 – the marketplace offered 150 different health plans for individuals and families through 10 insurance companies. The marketplace also offered 92 health plans through six insurers to small businesses through its SHOP program. About 220 small businesses enrolled through the program.

Arapahoe County and Denver County tied for the highest percentage of its population buy health insurance through the marketplace at 12.9 percent. Jefferson County was next with 11.4 percent.Boulder County had 8.4 percent of its population enroll through the exchange, while 6.8 percent of Larimer County’s population enrolled through the marketplace. Weld County came in at 4.8 percent and Broomfield County had 1.4 percent.

The organization has spent $108 million to date on technology systems and employs more than 200 workers at its customer-service center.

Staff at the customer-service center fielded requests from people speaking 29 different languages besides English. The most prevalent foreign languages in order of frequency were Spanish, Vietnamese and Mandarin.

“Our goal has always been to connect as many Coloradans as possible with health coverage that meets their needs, and tax credits to reduce costs,´ said Patty Fontneau, chief executive of Connect for Health Colorado. Tax credits averaged $277 per month, according to the nonprofit’s report.

UPDATED: This story originally reported different county-level data due to incorrect numbers disseminated by Connect for Health Colorado.